UNCONFIRMED
RKTC 16 12-13
UNIVERSITY OF BRADFORD
RESEARCH & KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER STRATEGY COMMITTEE
(RKTC)
Minutes of the Meeting held on 10th December 2012
Present:
Prof. N. Poku, PVC (Chair), Dr. M. Bloj (SLS), Prof R. Greene
(SLS), Prof. M Hardy (SoHS), Ms. T. Holt (Research, RKTS), Mr. M.
Purdie (KT - RKTS), Prof. J. Reast (SOM), Mr. P. Ryan, (SSIS), Prof.
S. Tait, (EDT), Prof D. Tobin (SLS), Prof B. Winn (DVC)
Apologies:
Ms. A. Dobrucki (Finance), Ms. S Dyson (Planning), Prof. J. Weiss
(SSIS), Prof. D. Pankhurst, Dean of Graduate Studies, Prof. S.
Shepherd (EDT), Prof. N. Cornelius (SOM)
In Attendance:
Ms. G Holdsworth, Mrs S Taylor (RKTS)
Declarations of interest: Mr. M Purdie, Director of Incanthera and IDM.
Welcome and Introductions. Professor J. Reast, Deputy Dean for the School of
Management was in attendance on behalf of the Associate Dean for RKT.
Summary of outstanding actions for RKTC
Resolved
Minute
Agenda Item and Action
Responsibility
Minute
Agenda Item and Action
Responsibility
10.15
PVC L&T to be invited to the next
committee meeting to discuss PGR
provision
RKT Strategy – ADR’s to work with the
Chair to produce a draft report for the
next committee meeting
The Concordat to support research
integrity : A task group will be formed
to review all current policies and
Chair
Action
11.7
13.3.1
Chair
TH
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procedures to work towards ensuring
they meet the Concordat’s
recommendations
9. 12-13
Minutes of the previous meeting and matters arising (Doc RKTC 09 1213
Corrections and points of accuracy noted:
9.1
That minute 3.3 should be amended to read that a Deputy Chair for
this Committee does not necessarily need to be a Dean of a School.
9.2
That minute 4.1.4 should be amended to note that the ‘Declaration
of Personal Circumstances’ form will be circulated to all academic
staff during November.
9.3
The minutes were approved following these amends.
Matters arising
NOTED:
10. 12-13
9.4
That minute 2.1 REF 2014 Strategy (Doc RKTC 06 12-13) had been
updated and made available via RKTS.
9.5
That minute 3.5, the revised TOR and Membership is a substantial
item for discussion on this agenda.
9.6
That item 4.2 the ADR remit and RKT Strategy documents and item
4.3 Research Development Fund paper are still outstanding and will
be developed in the context of the response to the Uniac report on
Research & Knowledge transfer and to support the Corporate
Strategy.
9.7
That items 5.1 (YIF) and 7.0 (RKT Centre Review Report) will be
covered under any other business.
9.8
That item 8.1.5 the Ethics Policy for Research will be covered under
Sub Committee reports
Revised Terms of Reference and Membership of the Research &
Knowledge Transfer Strategy Committee (Doc: RKTC 10 11-12)
KEY POINTS DISCUSSED:
NOTED:
10.1
The Chair reported that following a broad
Committees the terms of reference and
discussed in an open and frank forum with
RKT, and the document was open for a
committee.
review of the University
membership had been
the Associate Deans for
wider discussion at the
10.2
The Chair confirmed that the role of the ADR RKT had been
formalised as a member of the Committee to reflect their role in
managing and implementing RKT for their School. The remit of the
ADR role is being developed to support this activity and take
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ownership of the RKT agenda, in conjunction with discussions with
their Dean and to support the Corporate Strategy.
10.3
To maintain the balance of quora across the Schools, there will only
be one Associate Dean per School as a member of the Committee.
Where there are separate Associate Deans for Research, and for
Knowledge Transfer, The Associate Dean for Research will raise KT
matters on the School’s behalf.
10.4
That it is the responsibility of this Committee to recommend and
approve the nominations for the Chair of the sub committees that
report into it.
10.5
That the Chair of the Ethics Committee should be a full member of
this Committee
10.6
That all areas of the Terms of Reference should be explicitly
extended so that any references to ‘research’ are changed to
‘research and knowledge transfer’.
10.7
That three Research Active Professors will be invited from the
Professoriate Group to join this Committee. The organisation and
constitution of this Group will be clarified by the Chair at the next
Committee.
10.8
That after some discussion, it was agreed that to strengthen the
academic quorum of the Committee, these professoriate roles
should be made full members. Document 10 12-13 will be amended
to reflect this. The word “senior” was felt not appropriate and will be
removed from the description in the document.
10.9
That inviting professors with a broad and impartial view on research
priorities and not aligned to any particular RKT centre, would be
beneficial to the Committee.
10.10
That the Deans of School would still attend this Committee by
invitation.
10.11
That the Position of Chair of the Research Degrees Committee to be
amended to read “Dean of Graduate Studies”, at Prof. Pankhurst’s’
request
10.12
That the Research Degrees Committee (RDC) has a direct reporting
line on the day to day activities of the Graduate School directly into
the Learning & Teaching Committee. However, The RKTC will
continue to receive papers from RDC to maintain strategic oversight
on the PGR provision.
10.13
That the Associate Deans for RKT expressed their full commitment
to taking responsibility for the ownership of PGR provision within
their School. They will work closely with their Directors of Post
Graduate Research to recommend any improvements or
recommendations to the quality of PRG training and supervision.
However, concern was expressed that under the current committee
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structure, the ADR’s did not have sufficient opportunity to influence
any debate on changes and improvements in this area through the
Learning & Teaching Committee.
10.14
That under the recommendation of Senate, there will be a review of
the centralised Post Graduate provision and this Committee will be
notified of its recommendations in due course.
ACTION:
10.15
The Chair noted the comments and will invite the Pro Vice
Chancellor, Learning and Teaching to the next Committee meeting
to discuss PGR provision.
10.16
That reports from the University Commercialisation Group will
continue to be received by this Committee. However, decisions on
any company assets will be reviewed and agreed by the Investment
Committee.
10.17
That the Chair will review all comments and finalise the TOR
accordingly for the next committee meeting.
KEY AREAS OF BUSINESS
11. 12-13
UNIAC Audit Report on Research & Knowledge Transfer (Document:
RKTC 12 12-13)
NOTED:
11.1
That that Chair asked for this report to be used to inform on the
development of a new Research & Knowledge transfer strategy for
the University
11.2
That since the report had been released there had already been
significant steps made to improve the performance and in this
context the overall grade was considered to be a grade 3, working
towards a grade 2.
11.3
That within the RKT strategy review, there is a suggestion that the
financial model of adding a headcount tax should be re-considered.
11.4
That there was a lengthy discussion around the differing workload
models to free up research time and these should be agreed within
each School. The ADR role should be enabled to incorporate a
clearer staff management involvement.
11.5
That it is seen as crucially important to develop a robust
infrastructure and financial investment that will enable the institution
to meet the aspirations of achieving grade 1
11.6
That the Knowledge Transfer element of the RKT Strategy should
be strengthened to reflect the potential growth in this income stream.
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That the ADR’s will consulted to develop an RKT Strategy with
targets that are agreed and achievable, with clear methods to
monitor progress, and to enable Schools to make their pitch for
additional investment to grow RKT opportunities
11.7
ACTION:
The Chair noted all the comments brought forward and will work with the
Associate Deans RKT to prepare a draft report for review at the next
Committee meeting. (NP)
12. 12-13
Reports from the Sub Committees
NOTED:
13. 12-13
12.1
Committee for Ethics in Research (CER): That the minutes from the
meeting on 20th November 2012 (document RKTC 11 12-13) were
circulated for information and note.
12.2
University Commercialisation Group (UCG): That an oral report was
received on the University Commercialisation Group activities. Key
points to note:
12.2.1
That Spin Out Company Incanthera had successfully
secured £650K investment.
12.2.2
That Sewerbatt had received an investment offer of £600K
which is now being considered to roll this out as a new
Spin Out opportunity.
12.2.3
Research Degrees Committee (RDC) – There were no
minutes to receive at this Committee sitting.
Any Other Business
NOTED:
13.1
Research Excellence Framework update. That document RKTC 13
12-13 was received for information and note. This item will receive
a fuller briefing at the next Committee sitting in March.
13.2
RKT Centre Review report. That document 14 12-13 was received
for information and note.
13.2.1
That all RKT Centres, with the exception of one were noted
for approval going forward, and they are still seen as key
delivery vehicles for RKT activity.
13.2.2
That action plans were agreed individually with each RKT
Centre Director with the agreement that the Centres will
operate in support of the University RKT Strategy and their
host School’s RKT Strategy.
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13.2.3
13.3
That it was acknowledged that the whilst the RKT Centres
aim to be self-sustainable financially, an element of support
funding by the institution will need to be reviewed in line
with their contribution to the overall RKT Strategy.
The Concordat to support research integrity. That document RKTC
15 12-13 was circulated for information and note.
NOTED:
13.3.1
That the concordat seeks to provide a comprehensive
national framework for good research conduct and its
governance. In line with this guidance, the institution will
need to review these recommendations to ensure that it
meets with these national good practice benchmarks.
ACTION:
A task group will be formed to review all current policies and procedures to
work towards ensuring that they meet the Concordat’s recommendations. The
group will consist of ADR's from the School of Life Sciences, (MB), RKT
Centre Director, (DT), Chair of the CER (SS) and a representative from the
School of Management (arranged through the Acting Dean, School of
Management). In addition, The Head of Research Support will also consult
with the Head of Legal Services and the Planning office.
13.4
Head of Knowledge Transfer, Research & Knowledge Transfer
Support
NOTED:
13.4.1
The Chair acknowledged that Mr. M. Purdie was leaving
the University to take up a post at another institution. On
behalf of the Committee, the Chair warmly thanked him for
his tireless contribution and support to the Knowledge
Transfer agenda, and for his hard work within the institution
over the last 12 years.
THE DATE OF THE NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING
Is the 18 march 2013, COMMENCING AT 2.30PM IN ROOM D2.
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